Ruby Capacitors.....opinions ?

[SteelerFan88]

I am part sourcing for an upcoming 18w build and would ideally like to use a 33uf/450v as the first power filter cap but can not find anything in that value from my prefered brands (F&T, Sprague) but the Ruby brand can be had fairly cheap at around $5.50 each. I was wondering if any of you have any experience with them ? I may just bump that first stage up to 40uf....Sprague Atom makes one for that I do know.

 

[davemccarthy707]

They are just re-labelled offshore caps. Likely Chinese. Better off with putting 2 16uf Illinois or F&T together.

 

[SteelerFan88]

They are just re-labelled offshore caps. Likely Chinese. Better off with putting 2 16uf Illinois or F&T together.

Yeah....I was afraid of that. I think I may just "roll my own" wiring up two 16uf in parallel. I have not made the board yet so I can just add another inch to my original layout.....no biggie. Better to use quality now than replacing later

 

[SteelerFan88]

I found some Sprague-Atom 40uf/450v.....that might be just the ticket....not too far from 33uf to make a huge difference. It might stiffen the bass a tad but no biggie

 

[Mattbedrock]

Since most electrolytics are spec'd +50% / -10%, a 40uf may not be any different at all.

Probably heresy, but I'm just saying...

 

[Blue Strat]

Doesn't F&T make a 40/40? If so, I'd do that. Or maybe it's a 50/50...

 

[Trout]

I am part sourcing for an upcoming 18w build and would ideally like to use a 33uf/450v as the first power filter cap but can not find anything in that value from my prefered brands (F&T, Sprague) but the Ruby brand can be had fairly cheap at around $5.50 each. I was wondering if any of you have any experience with them ? I may just bump that first stage up to 40uf....Sprague Atom makes one for that I do know.

FT has 30uf/500V available, as mentioned above that is still inside the +/- tolerance rating. Personally I prefer to use the 500V over the 450V caps whenever possible.
http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/C-ET30-500-FT

 

[SteelerFan88]

my circuit calls for (2) 22uf/450v and (1) 33uf/450v. I think I'll just go with (1) F&T 47uf/500v and (2) F&T 22uf/500v.....The bass will "firm" up a tad so the overall feel might change slightly but then again I may not notice much of a difference at all. I'll try it and see

 

[kinmike]

They are just re-labelled offshore caps. Likely Chinese. Better off with putting 2 16uf Illinois or F&T together.

Illinois are made in Taiwan aren't they?

 

[wyatt]

The Ruby Gold is just fine, they seem to have a good enough rep in the DIY hi-fi scene.

Or just use the aforementioned 30uF/500V F&T. With wide-tolerenace electrolytic caps 30uF vs 33uF is pretty much a push.

 

[EADGBE]

Marshall recommends Ruby filter caps for my Marshall 2203X.

 

[donnyjaguar]

I have no brand loyalty when it comes to high voltage electrolytics. I also don't recall any failures in the last decade or so. My point I guess is don't let this hold up a repair/build.

 

[swiveltung]

I used some Ruby Gold in an amp build. No issues. I often just use Illinois now, used to use blue Sprague Atoms until I cut one apart, the actual cap inside the case is much smaller than the case is! Not worth the extra money to me now....

 

[gldtp99]

Many use the Nichicon brand: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail...GAEpiMZZMtZ1n0r9vR22beeiJoI0EpC/qVvfIVd%2bJU=

 

[ES333]

When the Sprague Atoms got too spendy for what they are, I switched to F&T and I am very pleased.

 

[Roe]

I recommend the bc vishay 450v 33uf

 

[donnyjaguar]

Nice on the Atoms - and no surprise. I did a re-cap recently with these. The customer had ordered them with a set of new tubes beforehand. I could tell by their weight that they contained a certain amount of sailboat fuel.

 

[BassHog]

I like the German made Miec electrolytic caps that Just Radios sells. They are inexpensive, great quality, and available in a lot of sizes that you will not find F&T and Spraque caps in. For example, 50uf or 100uf x 600V axial caps.

http://www.justradios.com/cart.html

 

[DeaconBlues]

I've been using F&Ts for the last three cap jobs that I've done and the customers seem very pleased with the performance of their amps.

 

[Avatar Tech]

Many use the Nichicon brand: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Nichicon/TVX2W330MCD/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtZ1n0r9vR22beeiJoI0EpC/qVvfIVd%2bJU=

+1 for Nichicon. I've used literally thousands of their 33 uF/450v caps over the last few years. If any of them have ever failed, nobody has ever told me about it.